Coyote Commentary--Continued
Marcus Wells, Jr.-"Mo-zah"
Four Bears Representative of the Tribal Business Council of TAT
"Secretarial Election to decide the Tribal Business Council Membership"

The Tribal Business Council Representatives and Chairman are asked during the recent campaigns increase the size of the Tribal Council membership during the 1994, 1996, 1998 and the 2000 elections by the membership the Three Affiliated Tribes. I would like to list four (4) of the many reasons that this increase of the Tribal Council should be supported by the membership of the Four Bears Community and the Tribal Members in general which hereby follow below:

1. Broader Representation
The inclusion of the Secretary and Treasurer to be elected at large would benefit the Tribal Membership by requiring the two (2) officers to elected by the people, therefore just as the Chairman is elected by the people so will these two important offices.
Today the offices of Secretary, Treasurer and the Vice Chairman are elected by the sitting seven (7) Tribal Business Council members. And these elected officers can be changed at any regular or special meeting which not a stable from of Tribal Government.
The membership would benefit by being able to feel confident that they have a say on whom the two (2) officers shall be from the primary election to the general election.

2. Better decision Making Process
The decision process today is such that at times we have a very important decision being made by three (3) individuals, I do not believe that we are providing the best service to our enrolled members by passing a issue with the vote such as 3 for 2 opposed and 2 abstentions. Such is the case from time to time on very critical decisions.

3. Stabilization in the Establishment of a Quorum
As the Tribal Business Council must have a quorum to get business done on the issues of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, the establishment of a quorum has always been a problem, as long as I have been on the council.  And I feel that it may have been a problem from time to time since the July 2, 1986 Amendment, when the council size was decreased from eleven (11) to the present size of seven (7).

4. Greater Accountability and Improved Performance of the Tribe
The Tribal Membership of the Three Affiliated Tribes would be assured of enhanced effectiveness of the Tribal Business Council to be acted on by official motion and resolution. Rather than having a limited number of individuals deciding the fate of the membership of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation which now numbers ten thousand (10,000) enrolled members.

"Therefore, I would like to inform the readers of this Four Bears News that I would recommend a vote to support the increase of the Tribal Business Council."

The Coyote Commentary is my own personal opinion and should not be taken as the official position of the Tribal Business Council.  Thank You. "Mod-zi-gidaz"
Marcus Wells, Jr., "Mo-zah", Four Bears Representative of  the Tribal Business Council       Page 2 of 2